Attachment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9359011-B2
Application number	US-201313895420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2013
Priority date	May 16, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

An attachment assembly is configured to couple a panel assembly to a support member. The attachment assembly includes a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. As such, the second attachment member is configured to move relative to the first attachment member. The second attachment member defines a cavity portion. The attachment assembly further includes a locking member movably coupled to the first attachment member between an unlocked position and a locked position. When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the second attachment member is movable with respect to the first attachment member. In the locked position, the locking member is at least partially disposed in the cavity portion, thereby fixing the position of the second attachment member with respect to the first attachment member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attachment assembly, comprising:
a first attachment member defines a first attachment cavity;
a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member, wherein the second attachment member is configured to move relative to the first attachment member, the second attachment member defines a cavity portion, the second attachment member includes a second attachment body configured to be slidably received in the first attachment cavity, and the second attachment member defines at least one slit extending through the second attachment body;
a locking member movably coupled to the first attachment member between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the locking member has a substantially frusto-conical shape;
wherein, when the locking member is in the unlocked position, the second attachment member is movable relative to the first attachment member;
wherein, in the locked position, the locking member is at least partially disposed in the cavity portion to fix a position of the second attachment member with respect to the first attachment member; and
wherein the slit is configured to allow the second attachment body to expand radially outward when the locking member is inserted into the cavity portion.

2. The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment member is configured to rotate relative to the first attachment member when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

3. The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member includes a first attachment body defining the first attachment cavity, and the first attachment cavity is configured to slidably receive a portion of the second attachment member.

4. The attachment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first attachment member includes a first attachment flange coupled to the first attachment body, and the first attachment flange is configured to be coupled to a panel assembly.

5. The attachment assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first attachment member includes a first attachment flange coupled to the first attachment body, and the first attachment flange defines a threaded hole.

6. The attachment assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a locking threaded screw coupled to the locking member, wherein the locking threaded screw is threadedly engaged with the threaded hole such that the locking member is configured to move with respect to the first attachment member upon rotation of the locking threaded screw relative to the first attachment flange.

7. The attachment assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second attachment member includes a second attachment flange configured to be coupled to a support member so as to connect the panel assembly to the support member.

8. The attachment assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second attachment flange defines at least one second flange hole configured to receive a fastener so as to couple the support member to the second attachment flange.

9. The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment body defines the cavity portion.

10. The attachment assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cavity portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape.

11. The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment member is configured to rotate relative to the first attachment member when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

12. A vehicle, comprising:
a first panel assembly;
a second panel assembly;
a support member configured to couple the first panel assembly to the second panel assembly; and
an attachment assembly at least partially disposed within the first panel assembly, the attachment assembly being configured to couple the support member to the first panel assembly, the attachment assembly including:
a first attachment member coupled within the first panel assembly so that the first attachment member remains stationary with respect to the first panel assembly, wherein the first attachment member defines a first attachment cavity;
a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member, wherein the second attachment member defines a cavity portion, the second attachment member includes a second attachment body configured to be slidably received in the first attachment cavity, and the second attachment member defines at least one slit extending through the second attachment body;
a locking member movably coupled to the first attachment member between an unlocked position and a locked position;

wherein, when the locking member is in the unlocked position, the second attachment member is movable with respect to the first attachment member;
wherein, in the locked position, the locking member is at least partially disposed in the cavity portion to fix a position of the second attachment member with respect to the first attachment member; and
wherein the slit is configured to allow the second attachment body to expand radially outward when the locking member is inserted into the cavity portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second attachment member is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis with respect to the first attachment member.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second attachment member is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis with respect to the first attachment member.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the cavity portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the locking member has a substantially frusto-conical shape.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Fathollahi Hojjat

Classifications

• F16B2/14

  using wedges · CPC title

• B62D27/06 Primary

  readily releasable · CPC title

• F16B5/0621 Primary

  in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• B62D25/14

  Dashboards as superstructure sub-units (other dashboard aspects B60K) · CPC title

• Y10T403/32254

  Lockable at fixed position · CPC title